The rabbis point out that Jacob organized the women in children based on his person attachments: the maidservants and children first, Leah and kids next, and finally Rachel and Joseph.
While the "who should be allowed to die first at the hands of Esau" ordering of the women and children appears quite terrible, there's something important that should not be missed in verse 3: Jacob places himself at the very front.
While the "who should be allowed to die first at the hands of Esau" ordering of the women and children appears quite terrible, there's something important that should not be missed in verse 3: Jacob places himself at the very front.
Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Genesis 33:1-3 (NKJV)